Sustainability in Shanghai for Clariant

Clariant will demonstrate how eco-friendly alternatives really can deliver top-level product performance and that all-important competitive-edge to leather manufacturers, at the ACLE 2013 in Shanghai.

Under the motto “More than meets the eye – Sustainable Innovations in Leather”, Clariant’s safe and reliable solutions offer the potential to substantially reduce ecological impact and help customers differentiate themselves in the market. This year’s event will see Clariant focus on innovative applications for the automotive, furniture, and shoes & fashion segments. Clariant will also help to further boost the competitiveness of its customers with a preview forecast of the fashion trends for Autumn/Winter 2014-15.

“Developing sustainable solutions that work in practice is integral to Clariant’s approach and our values of Performance. People. Planet. Our solutions for leather manufacturing offer reliability, high-level functionality, improved ecological profiles, and support creativity to help customers gain a sought-after competitive edge that can raise their earning potential,” comments Oliver Kinkel, Head of Clariant’s global Leather Services Business Unit.

Sustainable and chrome-free tanning with Granofin Easy F-90: Clariant’s industry standard-setting innovation EasyWhite Tan provides an environmentally compatible, safe and simplified tanning process that will have major benefits for tanners supplying almost every sector, from automotive leather to footwear. This technology has been developed using Clariant’s Granofin Easy F-90 Liquid, an organic compound that is not based on chrome, phenols or aldehydes. It removes the need to add salt during the tanning process as well as reducing the number of stages in the tanning process itself.

Long-lasting waterproofing with the efficient use of Dermaphob WA-71: Dermaphob WA-71 Liquid is a high performance water-repellent fatliquor for firm to medium soft leathers with a very tight and fine grain. It is highly effective even at very low levels of application. Low application also makes it easier to adjust level of softness in the final leather.

Sustainable retanning agents with maximized use of renewable raw materials: Clariant’s new generation replacements for phenol-based syntans are manufacturered to minimize the use of phenol and maximise the use of renewable raw materials.

Tanicor RS-38 and Tanicor RS-40 (for white and light coloured leathers) impart a consistent fullness, tightness and softness across the leather and contribute to a reduction of formaldehyde in the retanning bath and in the level of free or releasable formaldehyde in the leather. Tergotan RE-5020 replaces conventionally used resin-based tanning agents. Similar to the performance of traditional melamine or urea-formaldehyde based resin, it imparts excellent, selective filling, good dye-ability and an overall improvement in grain tightness. It is particularly suited for use in the retannage of leathers made with Granofin Easy F-90, Clariant’s new generation organic tanning agent.

Vegetable-feel leathers: Clariant’s Derminol range of compact specialty fatliquors allow tanners to produce beautiful and quality vegetable leathers using more standard application techniques, overcoming traditionally restrictive processing methods and conditions. With each product focused on a specific area, for example, stuffing and pull up, polishing and glazing, or a true vegetable handle, common benefits include uniform penetration and distribution for consistent softness levels and reliable results, and excellent lightfastness and heat resistance.

Clariant’s new EasyGuard anti-soiling system – aqueous and free of NMP/NEP: Clariant introduces its new EasyGuard aqueous anti-soiling system for leathers. It will be especially welcomed by tanners supplying the demanding automotive and upholstery sectors, as well as those working with footwear and fashion accessory manufacturers. The new system is formulated to provide more effective resistance to the broad spectrum of everyday products that can spoil the appearance of leather. This latest development s in Clariant’s wide range of anti-soiling products is both simple in application and economical in use.

Aqualen Top FL-series provide NMP/NEP-free aqueous topcoats for Fine Leathers: The Aqualen Top FL-series responds to requests from luxury brands in the Italian market for a new generation of low VOC, NMP/NEP-free aqueous top coats for fine leather for shoes, bags and nappas. Its broad compatibility enables the feel, gloss levels and physical properties of the leather to be modified.

Advanced upgrading technology for a wide variety of articles: Clariant’s latest developments in finishing help leathers to retain a high degree of their natural softness and feel, and create final articles with high sales appeal and price possibilities. As pure aqueous innovations, the waxes avoid the use of NMP or NEP. New Melio 06-M-73 is a filling/upgrading wax for a wide variety of articles from shoe upper to bag and furniture leathers including all fine leather applications. The product can be used in pre-grounds and base coats to level and mask the leather surface.

Brilliant aqueous-based pigments and efficient wet-end dyestuffs:

Neosan Lucido Pigments combine the physicals known from pigments with the brilliant transparency of dyestuffs to offer finishers new possibilities to create a very elegant appearance for classical articles as well as highly fashionable and brilliant shades, using an aqueous-based colorant. The very fine, dispersed transparent pigments based on nanotechnology are suitable for both anionic and cationic finishing systems. They are easy and versatile to use, have excellent fastness and migration properties, and do not contain NMP, NEP or phthalates.

Clariant’s Dermapel Dye range of anionic dyestuffs for shoe uppers and other leather articles provides best performance with outstanding cost-effectiveness. Dermapel Dyes include the most relevant colors, with excellent combinability and high matching reproductability. All Clariant dyes are developed in accordance with high environmental, health and safety regulations.

For more information, visit Clariant at the All China Leather Exhibition, stand D11 Hall E2.